C2 Unemployment Convention, 1919 Convention concerning Unemployment

Having been convened at Washington by the Government of the United States of America on the 29th day of October 1919, and

Having decided upon the adoption of certain proposals with regard to the “question of preventing or providing against unemployment”, which is the second item in the agenda for the Washington meeting of the Conference, and

Having determined that these proposals shall take the form of an international Convention, adopts the following Convention, which may be cited as the Unemployment Convention, 1919, for ratification by the Members of the International Labour Organisation in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation:

Article 1

Each Member which ratifies this Convention shall communicate to the International Labour Office, at intervals as short as possible and not exceeding three months, all available information, statistical or otherwise, concerning unemployment, including reports on measures taken or contemplated to combat unemployment. Whenever practicable, the information shall be made available for such communication not later than three months after the end of the period to which it relates.

Article 2

1. Each Member which ratifies this Convention shall establish a system of free public employment agencies under the control of a central authority. Committees, which shall include representatives of employers and of workers, shall be appointed to advise on matters concerning the carrying on of these agencies.

2. Where both public and private free employment agencies exist, steps shall be taken to co-ordinate the operations of such agencies on a national scale.

3. The operations of the various national systems shall be co-ordinated by the International Labour Office in agreement with the countries concerned.

Article 3

The Members of the International Labour Organisation which ratify this Convention and which have established systems of insurance against unemployment shall, upon terms being agreed between the Members concerned, make arrangements whereby workers belonging to one Member and working in the territory of another shall be admitted to the same rates of benefit of such insurance as those which obtain for the workers belonging to the latter.

Article 4

The formal ratifications of this Convention, under the conditions set forth in the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation, shall be communicated to the Director-General of the International Labour Office for registration.

Article 5

1. Each Member of the International Labour Organisation which ratifies this Convention engages to apply it to its colonies, protectorates and possessions which are not fully self-governing–

a) except where owing to the local conditions its provisions are inapplicable; or

b) subject to such modifications as may be necessary to adapt its provisions to local conditions.

2. Each Member shall notify to the International Labour Office the action taken in respect of each of its colonies, protectorates, and possessions which are are not fully self-governing.

Article 6

As soon as the ratifications of three Members of the International Labour Organisation have been registered with the International Labour Office, the Director-General of the International Labour Office shall so notify all the Members of the International Labour Organisation.

Article 7

This Convention shall come into force at the date on which such notification is issued by the Director-General of the International Labour Office, but it shall then be binding only upon those Members which have registered their ratifications with the International Labour Office. Thereafter this Convention will come into force for any other Member at the date on which its ratification is registered with the International Labour Office.

Article 8

Each Member which ratifies this Convention agrees to bring its provisions into operation not later than 1 July 1921, and to take such action as may be necessary to make these provisions effective.

Article 9

A Member which has ratified this Convention may denounce it after the expiration of ten years from the date on which the Convention first comes into force, by an act communicated to the Director-General of the International Labour Office for registration. Such denunciation shall not take effect until one year after the date on which it is registered with the International Labour Office.

Article 10

At such times as it may consider necessary the Governing Body of the International Labour Office shall present to the General Conference a report on the working of this Convention and shall examine the desirability of placing on the agenda of the Conference the question of its revision in whole or in part.

Article 11

The French and English texts of this Convention shall both be authentic.

Post navigation

Dear sir, this blog is verry important to me. I follow it dailly all posts. I am initiated to read more b/c of these posts. But I can’t read and download in pdf format thoses proclamations and regulations posted.,so would you help me to do this.
thank you.